Automatic coupling for railway-carriages, wagons, and the like.



V. W. J. SMITH. AUTOMATIC COUPLING FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGBS, WAGONS, ANDTHE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 16, 1913.

1,073,535. Patented Sept. 16, 1913.

VINCENT WILLIAM JOSEPH SMITH, OF EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND.

AUTOMATIC COUPLING FOR RAILWAY-CARRIAGES, WAGONS, AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 16,1913.

Application filed April 16, 1913. Serial No. 761,484.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ViNcnN'r l/VILLTAM Josnrn Snrrrn, a subject of theKing of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and resident ofFernsicht, Bclgrave Road, Corstorphine, Edinburgh, Scotland, mechanic,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Couplingsfor Railway-Carriages, lVagons, and the like, of which the tollowlng isa specification.

This invention relates to an improved automatic coupling for railwaycarriages, wagons and the like of the type having means for securing alink or shackle in the proper position to engage a swinging hook memberand for retaining the hook member in the coupled position and means forreleasing same, and this invention has for its object to improve theconstruction of such automatic couplings.

Figure 1 is an elevation of the coupling, showing the coupling in thecoupled position, one half being in section and one half in elevation.Fig. 2 a plan view of Fig. 1, also partly in section.

Referring to the drawing, I construct the body of the coupling in theform of a box like casting or "forging A having two projecting sideplates or checks a formed with downwardly projecting horns a. The saidbox like portion is pivotally connected to the draw-bar B of the vehicleby the pin Z) and nut b and it has formed on it above their hereinbeforementioned horns a a pair of horizontally projecting arms or slottedplate portions (F. In the space between the two projecting side platesor horned cheeks a, I provide a pivoted hook member C which is capableof swinging in a vertical plane on the pin 0, the said hook havingformed on it a projecting tail 0 having the stoppers 0 formed on it, thesaid stoppers engaging with the recess a formed in the side plates orchecks a. The stoppers c and recesses a are for the purpose ofpreventing the hook C from being lifted above the horizontal positionshown on the left hand of Fig. 1. On the outside of the hereinbeforedescribed box like member A I provide a shackle or link D which ispivotally attached to the box like casting by means of the pin (Z and secured thereto by collars (Z or by other suitable means such as nuts orthe like, the said link D also being provided at the eye end where it isattached to the coupling body with a pair of srmgs or tails d On the topof and at right angles to the coupling, I provide a horizontal spindleor axle 1G which carries three downwardly projecting fingers or catches,two of them--e being on the outsidcs ot' the cheek plates a of thecoupling :For the purpose of engaging with the snugs or tails (Z on thelink ID and maintaining the said link in a horizontal position whendesired. The middle one c of the three fingers is placed between thecheek plates (6 for the purpose of engaging with the tail 0 of thepivoted hook C and maintaining the said hook in a horizontal posi tionso as to engage with the link 1) of the coupling on the next vehicle.The cross spindle E is :lso provided with a weighted lever c or the likefor the purpose of releasing the hook portion O when it is desired touncouple the vehicles.

The action of the coupling is as follows: Suppose that it is desired tocouple two vehicles together; the link 1) of one of the couplings islifted up to a horizontal position and the outside depending fingers orcatches c actuated by the hereinbefore mentioned weighted lever engagewith the snugs or tails (Z of the link and hold it in a horizontalposition as in the right hand hall of Fig. .l. The vehicles now beingbrought together, the projecting link portion I) of the one couplingenters the space between the horned side checks (4 and top plate ormember a of the other coupling-- guided by the said horns-and comes intocontact with the tail 0 01' the pivoted hook C-which is in the positionshown by the chain lines in the left hand half of Fig. 1 and forces itbackward and so lifts the hook 0 up into a horizontal position, therebycausing it to engage with the link I) as shown in.Fig. .1. The middledepending finger or catch (1 oil the cross spindle E then comes intoengagement with the tail 0 of the hook member C and retains the saidhook in engagement with the link of the other coupling thereby securelycoupling the vehicles together as shown in Fig. 1. To uncouple thevehicles it is only necessary to lift up the weighted lever c andthereby trip the depending finger 0 clear of the tail 0 oil the hook andso allow it to fall clear of the link or the other coupling.

I may construct the couplings ot'any suitable materials such as caststeel, malleable iron, or it may be made from forgings.

With reference to the releasing gear of the couplings I may provide themeans shown in Figs-.- 3, 4L, 5 and 6.

F or shunting purposes when the vehicles.

do" not require to be coupled, thedcpending fingers or catches e aresimply disengaged from the snugs ortails" (Z on the end of the link byraising the weighted lever 6 1. An automatic car coupling comprising amain body pivotally connected with the draw-bar of the car said bodyhavingioa wardly projecting cheeksand a similarly projecting top plate,a coupling linkjour= na led" tosaid checks a coupling hook hingedbetween said cheeks; an arresting bolt journaled in said body,arrest-ingfingers on said bolt adapted to engage with said link and saidhook respectively to retain then-iin horizontal position; a counterpoised level on said bolt tending. to swing" said fingers forward; saidlink when in horizontal po sition adaptedto impinge with the hook" in asimilarly arranged coupling on another car, when said hook hangs inthevertical position, thereby throwing the hook into horizontal positionand into engagement with finger ot'its arresting bolt and with saidcoupling link. v

2'; An" automatic car coupling comprising a main body pivota'll yconnected with the draw-ba=r of the car permitting horizontalfoscillation of said body; said body having forwardly projecting cheeksand r a simi larly projecting top plate above said cheeks,

a coupling link journaled' to said cheeks andprovided with a rearwardprojection; a coupling hook hinged between said cheeks,

iniront of the pivot point of said. link,

said hook and said link adapted to swing in a vertical direction; saidhook being provided with a tail piece having trans versely extendinglugs adapted to contact with said checks to limit the swinging of saidhook; an arresting bolt horizontally j'ournaled in saidlbo'dy, arrestingfingers on said bolt adapted to engage with said link 'pl'njectioir andsaid hook tail respectivcly,'

and retain the link and the hookin' horizontal position; a counterpoised lever'on said bolt tending" to swing said fingers forward, saidlever, on being manually operated causing the disengagement oi saidfingersfromsaidhook and link; 'said link when: in" horizontal. positionadapted to Zon-tal position and into engagement with a finger of itsarresting bolt and \Vlllll' said coupling link.

VINCENT WILLIAM JOSEPH SMITH.

Witnesses:

Jenn Ivi rcrcnELL,-. Fn-nnnniok PIAT'I.

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